MEPs Sofie Eriksson and Heléne Fritzon (S&D, Sweden) have asked the European Commission to detail concrete actions taken to address multiple interconnected threats in the Baltic Sea under the European Ocean Pact, following recent incidents off the coast of Skåne. The written question, submitted on 25 June 2026, highlights industrial fishing, climate change, nutrient pollution, and security risks from the Russian shadow fleet, unsafe shipping, and maritime law violations. The MEPs point to Swedish authorities boarding suspected shadow fleet vessels and two ships anchored outside Trelleborg with dozens of seafarers in need of basic assistance. They also flag hybrid threats to underwater infrastructure, cyber risks, sabotage, and unexploded ordnance endangering ecosystems.
The question seeks to hold the Commission accountable for its commitments in the Ocean Pact to strengthen maritime surveillance, coast guard cooperation, critical infrastructure protection, and action on unexploded ordnance. The MEPs ask what actions have already been taken and how the Commission will ensure these pledges translate into concrete measures in the Baltic Sea, including coordination and technology support for Member States.
This is a parliamentary question under the EU's oversight mechanism, requiring the Commission to respond within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal the Commission's policy direction on Baltic Sea security and environmental priorities. The question impacts several stakeholders: EU coastal Member States (especially Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Baltic states) facing security and environmental pressures; the fishing industry, which may face tighter restrictions; shipping operators, particularly those linked to the shadow fleet; and EU taxpayers funding surveillance and infrastructure protection. The MEPs' intervention reflects a push for stronger EU-level coordination and enforcement, potentially increasing EU powers in maritime security and environmental regulation, at the expense of national sovereignty over coastal waters.